Monday December 8, 2025
Mohamed Farah Noor is Somalia’s Transport and Civil Aviation Minister. / User Upload
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia is moving to relaunch Somali Airlines in the coming months, marking the national carrier’s first return since it shut down more than 30 years ago during the civil war, the country’s transport minister said Sunday.
Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Farah Noor said the Federal Government has completed several major steps, including forming a management board, establishing a regulatory framework, securing international partnerships and purchasing new aircraft. He said the airline is now in its final stages of operational planning.
“We are confident that very soon our national airline will return to the skies, flying the Somali flag proudly across Somalia and around the world,” Farah said.
The relaunch advances a broader push to rebuild Somalia’s aviation sector. Farah said four additional international airlines are preparing to enter the Somali market, joining the eight already flying to Mogadishu, including Turkish Airlines.
As part of the relaunch, officials announced in late July 2025 that Somalia had acquired two Airbus A320s under an agreement with Lima Holding Group, with the aircraft expected to become operational within two months. Authorities said additional jets, including larger models for long-distance routes, will be added to the fleet beginning in 2026, supported by Somali pilots and aviation personnel trained abroad.
A major milestone in the revival effort was the restoration of Somalia’s access to the International Air Transport Association’s Billing and Settlement Plan for the first time in 33 years. The BSP system manages financial transactions between global airlines and travel agencies. IATA is now preparing to reinstate Somalia’s BSP country code, a move officials say is essential for tracking ticket sales and reconnecting the country to standard commercial aviation systems.
The government has also restored Class A airspace and reestablished air traffic control after a three-decade disruption, aligning Somalia’s airspace management with international standards. Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport has undergone upgrades to meet ICAO’s highest benchmarks for safety and operational efficiency.
Further reforms set for 2025 included the contentious rollout of e-Visa and electronic travel authorization systems, mandatory advance passenger information and passenger name record requirements, and real-time data-sharing with Interpol and U.S. authorities. Somalia has also ratified seven global aviation security treaties to strengthen compliance and international cooperation.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last year laid the foundation for a new Mogadishu International Airport, envisioned as a future transport hub for East Africa.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, marking International Civil Aviation Day, praised the progress and said the restoration of airspace control and expansion of international connectivity reflect Somalia’s broader recovery. He credited the Somali Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Transport for leading what he called a transformation from collapse to a functioning, internationally recognized aviation system.
Somali Airlines, founded in 1964, once operated domestic and international flights before suspending service in 1991. Its planned return signals a symbolic and practical step in Somalia’s effort to rebuild national institutions and rejoin global aviation networks.
